Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/360116
Siesta Seen Use Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (FLUEDRA). The Request says the board's denial of the Allens' variance petition in April left them not only unable to construct a house on the site but also unable to "make any other beneficial use of the Property." In a June 4 memo to the commissioners, County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh explained that among the possible outcomes of the action could be the county's purchase of the property, an adjustment of the county's vari- ance standards or suggestions of conditions that would allow development. On Aug. 4, Howard Berna, the environmen- tal supervisor for the county who handled both the Allens' variance petitions, told me a Special Magistrate hearing on the Request for Relief was postponed until Sept. 16 because of a determination that additional informa- tion needed to be obtained beforehand, and that could not be accomplished by Aug. 5. The decision about the postponement resulted from a mediation session involving the Allens and county staff, Berna added. That session was not open to the public, while the Special Magistrate hearing will be, he said. Improvements are under way on part of the old parking lot at Siesta Public Beach. According to the county website, the primary ingress for the beach near the historic pavilion has been changed to allow people to exit at that location as well. Ron Russo, vice president of the construction management firm, Jon F. Swift, told The Sarasota News Leader on Aug. 5, '[W]e have two exit signs that we are installing today and will try to get two more up tomorrow. This should eliminate any future confusion' about the new egress. Photo by Rachel Hackney Sarasota News Leader August 8 & 15, 2014 Page 60